Absorption refrigerating apparatus



July 1s, 1944.

N. ERLAND AF- KLl-:EN 2,353,715

ABSORPTION REFRIGERATING APPARATUS y Filed F'eb. 17, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN TOR.

/V/LS ERLAND AF KLEEN AT ORNEY July V18, 1944.

N. ERLAND AF KLEEN 2,353,715 ABSORPTION REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 17, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INyENToR.

N/LS ERLAND AF KLEEN Patented July 18, 1944 ABSORPTION REFRIGERATING. APPARATUS Nils Erland af Kleen, Stockholm, Sweden, as-

signor to Kleen Refrigerator, Inc., Hoboken, N. J.. a corporation of Delaware 4Application February 17, 1942, Serial No. 431,208

Claims. (Cl. 62-118) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in refrigeration and is a continuation in part of my co-pending application, Ser.

No. 370,431, led December 17, 1940.

The present invention is directed more particularly to absorption refrigerating apparatus and has for its primary object to produce refrigeration simultaneously at a plurality of different points such, for example, as the different terri-y perature compartments in a refrigerator cabinet, by `means of separate refrigerant evaporating elements. A

To this end, one embodiment of the invention consists in the provision of a plurality of cooling means for respectively different compartments of a refrigeration cabinet or theI like, which compartments include an ice-freezing compartment,

a low temperature storage compartment and a higher temperature storage compartment, in which each cooling means comprises two coolan example, is of the intermittent absorption type and comprises two umts generally indicated as A and B, respectively, operating in out-ofphase relation to each other to produce substantially continuous refrigeration. Inasmuch as the units are similar in -all respects to one another,

muy the parts of unit Awiu be described in detail,

I' the corresponding parts of unit B being distinguished by the prime'of the numerals used in describing unit A.

Each unit includes a boiler-absorber III containing absorbent material and adapted to be heated during the generating periods by any suitable means such for example as the gas burner Il. The refrigerant vapors liberated from the absorbent during the generating periods pass upwardly throughvapor conduit I2 leading to a pair of condensers I3 and I4 vwhere the refriging sections having alternate cooling and inactive periods and operating in out-of-phase relation to each other to provide a continuous cooling eect in said ice-freezing, low temperature and higher temperature storage compartments and in which the cooling sections of the cooling means for the higher temperature storage compartment are alternately coated with frost and defrosted in outof-phase relation to each other to. maintain a relatively high humidity in said last named compartment.

The new and novel features of the invention will become apparent from' the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and the invention will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to thedrawings, in which numerals of like character designate similar parts throughout the several views,

Fig. l is a diagrammatic-view of absorption refrigerating apparatus embodying a plurality of cooling means in accordance with the present in- 1 vention for producing refrigeration simultaneously in the different compartments of arefrigerator cabinet shown in section and broken away;

Fig. 2 isa detail perspective View of the evaporating circuits for the low temperature compartments of the cabinet;

Fig', 3 is a similar view of one of the refrigerant 'evaporating circuits for the main storagecompartment of Athe cabinet;Y and Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view similar to Fig. l,

but showing a modification.

In the drawings, referring more particularly to Fig. 1, the refrigerating apparatus illustrated as erant is liqueiled and delivered to separate collecting tanks I5 and' I6 arranged in the insulated top wall I1 of the refrigerator cabinet I8. Associated with the collecting vessel I5 vis a pair of cooling coils or evaporators I9 and 20, the former, I9, arranged in one side of a low temperature -or freezing compartment 2 I, and the other cooling coil 20 similarly arranged in another low temperature compartment such as the ice-tray compartment 22. As clearly shown in Fig. 2, one end of each of the cooling coils or evaporators I9 and 20' is connected to the bottom of the vessel I5 and the other end of each of these coils terminates in communication with the upper portion of the vessel. From the collecting vessel I6, a finned cooling coil 23 extends downwardly at one end'from the bottom of thevessel into the main storage compartment 24 of the cabinet I8 and terminates at its opposite end in communication with the upper portion of the vessel I6, as clearly shown in Fig.3.j v

Thus, one end of the evaporator coil 23, is in liquid communication with the vessel I6 and the other end is in vapor communication therewith. 'I'he vessel I6 is functionally a part of the conduit I2 which is connected with the refrigerant passage opening I2a of the boiler-absorber I0, which is a closed vessel having the absorbent therein to absorb the refrigerant :Iluid when acting as an absorber, and to' deliver the refrigerant fluid therefrom when acting as a generator.

'Ihe collecting vessel I5 'isv also supplied by a part of the conduit I2 and has depending therefrom two coils or evaporators I9 and 20, which like evaporator 2 3, have each one end for liquid communication therewith and the other end for vapor communication therewith. Collecting vessel Il' hals two depending evaporators l 9' and 2l', like those described and marlsed i9 and 2l. Collecting vessel I 3 has the depending evaporator 23' like levaporator 23.

'I'he evaporators 23 and 23,-the evaporators I9 and il. and the evaporato'rs 20 and 2|', are arranged in pairs, with the evaporators of each pair of-phase relation to the collecting vessels for the operative in out of phase relation to each other.

A wall III-separates the respective pairs, as for instance-evaporators 23 ano 23' are separated by .wall 2l from'evapcrators li! and I9', and also from ,evaporators 23, and 2l', and in turn evapother set of cooling coils. .Moreoven as shown in Fig. 4, each of the cooling coils I9, and 23 of one unit may be connected to a common vessel 2l and the corresponding-cooling coils I8', 20' and 23' of the other unit similarly connected to a common vessel 28'.

'I'he refrigerant for each of the collecting vessels maybe generated substantiallyV continuously from a common generating source and the flow of the refrigerant diverted alternately into one and v the other of two separate collecting vessels or "orators I3 and il' are separatedl from evap-l' orators 2l and 233 For the absorption periods of the unit, the

burner II is turned oi! and the refrigerant evaporating in the cooling coils I9, 20 and 23 returns to the boiler-absorber III to be reabsorbed by the absorbent, following which the burner is again turned on to repeat the cycle just described.

The operation of each of the unitsA and B fromlgenerating to absorbing and vice versa is controlled by the usual thermostat mechanism showndlagrammatically at lll and operating to permit the flow o f fuel to one and prevent the flow of fuel to the other of the burners I I and Il and vice' versa so vthat when one unit, for example unit A, is generating, unit lB is absorbing. Thus.

two separate sets of collecting vessels, or, as shownin Fig. v4, the collecting vessels 28 and 28' may form parts of separate intermittent absorption units A and B, respectively. Furthermore, as

.also shown in' Fig. 4, each of the units A and B may include two or more boiler-absorbers 29, 30

and 23', 30', respectively. 'I'he boiler-absorbers of unit A are connected in series or tandem relation with each other and the refrigerant generated therein passes by-1way of vapor conduit 3| to a condenser 32 and is'delivered as condensate to the vessel 2B during the generating periods. A similar tandem arrangement of the boiler- Vabsorbers 29' and 30 is provided for unit B in fluid communication with the vessel 28' by Way of conduit 3l' and condenser 32'.

It will thus be .seen that I have provided refrigerating apparatus embodying a, plurality of cooling means forv producing refrigeration simultaneously in a plurality of diierent ,zones or compartments, that each of the cooling means consists of at least two separate cooling sections each producing a cooling effect intermittently but in outof-phase relation to each other, that for the low temperature zones or compartments, the separate cooling sections of the corresponding coolingof cooling coils producingfintermittent cold in out-of-Dhas'e relation to each other so that substantlallycontinuous refrigeration is produced in `each compartment.

IIn thelow temperature compartments 2| and 22', the cooling coils or evaporators Il and 20 of one unit are thermally connected to the correspending coils i8 and 20 of the other unit by means of the heat-conducting walls 25 of the compartments, which walls are shown relatively thick to accumulate, the cold produced intermittently by each of the\coo1ing coils-so that a substantially unchanged low temperature will be maintained in eachof the low temperature compartments. How-A ever, in the main storage compartment 24, due

, to the fact that the cooling coils 23 and 23' are separate from one another in a heat-conducting respect, each will alternately be coated with frost and be defrosted during the absorbing and generatingperiods, respectively, of the respective unit,

means are thermally' connected togetherby heat conducting means Awhich' accumulate the cold produced intermittently by each of the so connected cooling sections so that a substantially unchanged low'temperature is maintained thereby, and that in the higher temperature compartment or compartments, Ythe separate cooling sections are separate from one another in a heat conduct- 'ing'relation so that each isalternately coated with frost and defrosted during the coldY producing periods and the inactive periods thereof, respectively, to maintain a relatively high humidity in the latter compartment or compartments.

so that a relativelyhigh4 humidity will be maintained in this compartment of the cabinet'i. The condensate formed onthe coils.23 and 23'. during thefintermitt'ent defrosting thereof will fall onto plates-23 and be collected in a drlp pan or tray 21 which may be removed and emptied whenever necessary#l While I have'shown and described the cooling coils or evaporators I3 and I2|! of one unit connectedfto'a common collecting vessel I5 and the From the foregoing it is believed that the construction, operation and advantages of my invention may be readily understood by those skilled in the art without further description, it being borne in mind that numerous changes may be made in the details disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention as setout in the following claims.

\What I claim is: f

1-. In a refrigerator, the combination with a plurality of compartments to be cooled including an ice-freezing compartment, a low temperature storage compartment, and a higher temperature corresponding cooling coils It. and 2l'l ofthe other unitconnected to vessel I5', eachof these may beconnected to separate colletlug rebels" the vessels for one set of cooling being supplied with liquid refrigerant in Olitstorage compartmentpof a plurality of cooling parts having alternate cooling and inactive periods and arranged in pairs including one pair for said ice-freezing compartment, a secondipair for said `low temperature storage compartment and a third pair for said higher temperature storagercompartment 4with the alternate cooling and inactive periods of one of the cooling parts tion to the corresponding periods of the other one of the cooling parts of each of said pairs to provide substantially continuous cooling and with the cooling parts of the third pair arranged in indirect thermal transfer relationyto one another to cool the air in said higher temperature storage compartment so that each of said last named cooling partsl becomes alternately coated with frost and defrosted during its cooling and inactive periods, respectively, to provide a relatively high humidity in said higher temperature storage compartment.

2. In a refrigerator, the combination with a pluralityof compartments to be cooled includ` ing an ice-freezing compartment, a low temperature storage compartment, and a higher temper- .ature main storage compartment; ofrefrigerating apparatus including a plurality of evaporator parts arranged in pairs including one pair for said ice-freezing compartment, a second pair for said low temperature storage compartment and a third pair for said higher temperature main storage compartment with the evaporator parts of said third named pair arranged in indirect thermal transfer relation to one another for air cooling, meansior alternately supplying refrigerant liquid to and withdrawing refrigerant vapor from one of the evaporator parts of each of saidpartment, and a third pair for said higher temperature main storage compartment, with the cooling parts of said third pair arranged in indirect thermal transfer relation to one another for air cooling; of means for alternately supplying a heat transferring fluid to and withdrawing such fluid from one ofthe cooling parts of each of said pairs; and means for alternately supplying a heat transferring fluid to and withdrawing such fluid from the other one of the cooling parts of each of said pairs in out-ofphase relation to the first named cooling parts of said pairs to provide substantially continuous cooling foreach of said compartments with alternate frosting and defrostingv of each of the cooling parts of said third named pair in out-ofpairs, and means for alternately supplying refrigerant liquid to and withdrawing refrigerant vapor from the other one of the evaporator parts of each of said pairs in out-of-phase relation.

to the first named evaporator parts of said pairs tol provide substantially continuous refrigeration for each of said compartments with alternate frosting and defrosting of each of the evaporator parts of said third named pair in out-ofphase relationship with respect to one another to provide a relatively high humidity in said higher .temperature main storage compartment.

3. In a refrigerator, the combination with a `plurality of compartments to be cooled including an ice-freezing compartment, a low temperature storage compartment, an'd a higher temperature main storage compartment; of means including a plurality of cooling parts having alternate cooling and inactive periods and comprising one for said ice-freezing compartment, an other Afor said low temperature storage compart-v ment, and a third for vsaid higher temperature main storage compartment; and separate means including a plurality of cooling parts having alternate cooling and inactive periods in` out-ofphase lrelation to said rst named cooling parts and comprising one for said ice-freezing com partment, another for said low temperature storage compartment and a third for said higher temperature main storage compartment, the cooling parts for said higher temperature main storage compartment of each of saidfirst named and second named means being arranged in indirect thermal transfer relation to one another for air cooling so' that each becomes alternately coated with frost and defrosted during its cooling and inactive periods, respectively, to provide a relatively high humidity in said higher temperature main storagecompartment.

4. In a refrigerator, the combination with a plurality of compartments to be cooled including an ice-freezing compartment, a low temperature storage compartment, and a higher temperature main storage compartment; means comprising a plurality of cooling parts arranged in pairs including one pair for said ice-freezing compartment with the cooling parts arranged in direct thermal transfer relation to one another, asecond pair for said low temperature storage comphase relationship with respect to one another to provide a relatively high humidity in said higher temperature main storage'compartment.

5. In a refrigerator, the combination with a plurality of compartments to be cooled including an ice-freezing compartment, a low temperature storage compartment, and a higher temperature storage compartment; of means comprising a plurality of receptacles supplied with refrigerant liquid intermittently, one half supplied with 'refrigerant liquid in out-of-phase relation to the other half, and a plurality of coolingv coils divided into groups, including one group connected for the gravity ilow of refrigerant from one half of said receptacles and comprising a cooling coil for said ice-freezing compartment, a second cooling coil for said low temperature storage compartment and a third cooling coil for said higher temperature storage compartment,y and another group connected for the gravity flow of refrigcooling is provided for each of said compartments,

the third named cooling coil associated with one group being arranged in indirect thermal transfer relation to the corresponding cooling coil associated with the other group to cool the air in said higher temperature storage compartment so that each of said last named cooling coils becom es alternately coated with frost and defrosted, one in out-of-phase relation to the other.

6. In a refrigerator, the combination with a plurality of` compartments to be cooled including an ice-freezing compartment, a low temperature storage compartment, and a higher temperature storage compartment; of means comprising a plurality of receptacles including one supplied with refrigerant liquid intermittently and another one supplied with refrigerant liquid intermittently and in out-of-phase relation to the ilrst one, and a plurality of cooling coils divided into two groups one group connected for the gravity lflow of refrigerant from the iirst one of said receptacles and including a cooling coil for said ice-,freezing compartment, a second cooling coil forv said low temperature storage compartment, and a third cooling coil for said higher temperature storage compartment, and the other group connected for the gravity flow of refrigerant from the second one of saidA receptacles and including a cooling coil for said ice-freezing compartment, a second cooling coil for said low temperature storageY compartment, and a third cooling coil for said higher temperature storage compartment-whereby substantially continuous cooling is provided for each of said compartments, the third named cooling coil associated with one group being arranged in indirect thermal transfer relation to the corresponding cooling coil associated with the i other group to cool the air in said higher temperature storage compartment so that each of said last named cooling coils becomes alternately coated with frost and defrosted, one in out-ofphase relation tothe other.

7. In a refrigerator, the combination with al plurality of compartments to be cooled including an ice-freezing compartment, a low temperature storage compartment, and a higher temperature storagecompartment; of means comprising a plurality of receptacles including two supplied with refrigerant liquid intermittently and two others supplied with refrigerant liquid intermittently and in out-of-phas'e relation to the first two, and a plurality of cooling coils divided into two groups, each group including a cooling coil for said ice-freezing compartment, a second cooling coil for' said low temperature compartment, and a third cooling coil for said higher temperature storage compartment, two of the threenamed cooling coils of the ilrst group being in iluid communication with one and the other one of the three-named cooling coils of said first group being in fluid communication with one and the third cooling coil of said other group being in nula communication with the other one of said second named receptacles, whereby ment, a low temperature storage compartment group being in fluid lcommunication with the other one of the ilrst named receptacles, and two of the three-named cooling coils of the second group being in iluid communication witl'i one and the other one of the three-named cooling coils of said second group being in fluid communication.

with the other one of the second named receptacles, whereby substantially continuous cooling is provided for each oi' said-compartments, the third named cooling coil associated with one group being arranged in indirect thermal transfer relation to the corresponding cooling coil associated with the other group to cool the air in said higher temperature storage compartment so that each of said last named cooling coils becomes alternately coated with frostA and defrosted one in out-of-phase relation to the'other.

-8. In a refrigerator, the combination with a plurality oi' compartments to be cooled including an ice-freezing compartment, alow temperature storage compartment, and a higher temperature storageA compartment; of means comprising a plurality of receptacles including,

two supplied with refrigerant liquid intermittently and two others supplied with refrigerant liquid intermittently and in out-of-phase rela- .tion to the nrst two, and a plurality of cooling coils divided into two groups, each group including a cooling coil for said ice-freezing compartment, a second cooling coil for said low temperature storage compartment', and a third cooling coil for said higher temperature storage compartment, the rst and second cooling coils of one group being in fluid communication with one and the third cooling coil of the saidv one group being in fluid communication with the other one of said first named receptacles, and

the ilrst and second cooling coils of the other and a higher temperature storage compartment; and refrigerating apparatus of the intermittent absorption type including two" units having alternate generating and absorbing periods and operating in o ut-of-phase relation to one another to provide substantially continuous refrigeration with each unit having a plurality of refrigerant evaporating elements connected for the flow. of the refrigeration fluid and including one for said ice-freezing compartment, a second for said low temperature storage compartment, and a third fork said higher temperature storage compartment and with the third named evaporating element of one unit arranged in indirect thermal transfer relation to the corresponding eva-porating element oi' the other unit and adapted to cool the air in said higher temperature storage compartment so that each of said \third named evaporatingA elements becomes alternately coated with frost and defrosted during the absorbing and generating periods, respectively, of the associated unit to provide a relatively high'humidity in said higher temperature storage compartment.

l0. In a refrigerator oi' the intermittent absorption type, the combination with a plurality of boiler-absorbers each operative duringr alternate periods as an absorber for refrigerant fluid and as a deliyerer of the same, means operating one of said 'boiler-absorbers alternately as an absorber and as a generator and another one of said boiler-absorbers alternately as an absorber and as a generator in out-of-phase relation to the firstboiler-absorber, each of said first and second boiler-absorbers having a plurality of evaporator parts in iluld communication therewith to form at least three pairs of evaporator parts in each of which pairs one of the evaporator parts operates in out-of-phase relation with the other evaporator part of said pair;

of a wallbetween each of said pairs of evaporator parts, and a thermal connection between the evaporator parts of each of at least two of said pairs, the third lpair of evaporator parts being thermally unconnected.

NILsERLANDAr-KIEEN. 

